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RM Special Episode: SMTAI 2025 Conference & Event Preview

RM Special Episode: SMTAI 2025 Conference & Event Preview

Special Episode: SMTAI 2025 Conference & Event Preview

This episode is all about SMTAI, surface mount Technology International, taking place OCTOBER 19 – 23, 2025 at the DONALD E. STEPHENS CONVENTION CENTER in ROSEMONT, ILLINOIS.

SMTA International is the premier gathering for innovation and collaboration in electronics assembly, surface mount technology, and advanced manufacturing.

This year, SMTAI is more than just a conference and expo. It’s an opportunity for experts, newcomers, industry leaders, and rising professionals to come together, exchange ideas, showcase breakthroughs, and shape the future of electronics manufacturing.

Over several days, you’ll see deep-technical sessions, the latest research, hands-on exhibits, and, co-located with the assembly show, you can expect a bustling expo floor where solution providers and attendees connect on everything from process optimization to next-generation materials.

To talk more about the technical conference, I’ve invited members of the conference committee to share some highlights of the conference.

Tony Lentz from FCT Assembly
Gayle Towell from Aim Solder
Tom Rovere from Lockheed Martin
Maurice Dore from Valeo
Kelly Flanagan from Rockwell
And, although not a member of the Technical Committee but a member of the SMTA Global Board of Directors and Chair of the Students and Young Professionals committee, Dr. Adam Klett of Kyzen Corporation.

More information on SMTAI is available here:
https://www.smtai.org

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CR098: Bryan Bieschke CMRP of UpKeep Talking IMTS and SMRP 2024

CR098: Bryan Bieschke CMRP of UpKeep Talking IMTS and SMRP 2024

Bryan Bieschke CMRP of UpKeep Talking IMTS and SMRP 2024

This dude has been busy hitting the trade show circuit, IMTS – International Manufacturing Technology Show a couple weeks back and heading to SMRP in Orlando next week (Oct 7-10,2024 talking real about solving maintenance management problems!! *It is not just about the software. It’s about the people, the process, and incorporating impactful maintenance and reliability best practices while building a culture of excellence. No BS. Zero #Hogwash. No buzz words.

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RM 176: The Chemistry of Reliability: Choosing the Right Solder and Flux: A Conversation with Chris Ward

RM 176: The Chemistry of Reliability: Choosing the Right Solder and Flux: A Conversation with Chris Ward

The Chemistry of Reliability: Choosing the Right Solder and Flux: A Conversation with Chris Ward

In this episode, I’m joined by Chris Ward, founder and Managing Director of Solderking Assembly Materials Limited, a UK-based manufacturer of solders and chemical consumables for electronic, electrical, and engineered assemblies.

Chris brings decades of experience in soldering materials and chemical formulations—and he’s built a company committed to performance, consistency, and innovation.

Earlier this year, Chris and his company were honored with the prestigious King’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade, recognizing their exceptional export growth. That recognition earned him an invitation to Windsor Castle, where he had the distinct honor of meeting King Charles III.

Today, we’ll explore the evolving world of soldering materials—from the realities behind “no-clean” flux, to reliability challenges in harsh environments, to innovations in solder chemistry that support today’s miniaturized and mission-critical electronics.

Whether you’re on the production floor, in the design lab, or managing quality and reliability, this is a conversation that brings valuable insight into the materials behind the mission.

SolderKing:

Solderking Home

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Software Root Cause Analysis (with Fault Trees)

Software Root Cause Analysis (with Fault Trees)

Software Root Cause Analysis (with Fault Trees)

podcast episode with speaker Chris Jackson

Everyone knows how things fail … right? We know that we often have to deal with defects or design oversights that mean parts rub, crack, or erode quicker than we would like. And then something snaps, breaks or stops conducting, so our product stops working. But then there is software … which never fails. And that is because software only ‘fails’ when a coding error or bug makes it do something we didn’t want it to do. So it’s simple human error … which we can’t model, prevent, or create safeguards to prevent these errors … right? Wrong! And that is because software bugs are so common that we know how most of them happen. Which means we can work out what went wrong to allow that bug to happen. And that means we can quickly and efficiently improve software reliability!
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CR097: Why Retail Facility Managers are Switching their CMMS to Facilio

CR097: Why Retail Facility Managers are Switching their CMMS to Facilio

Why Retail Facility Managers are Switching their CMMS to Facilio

Why do FMs switch their CMMS systems?  It happens across verticals – in retail stores, healthcare facilities, educational institutions or office building operators – for a multitude of reasons.  That’s why Basant Singhatwadia of Facilio joined CMMSradio – to discuss the CMMS customer experience, what clients want, and the surrounding influences that drive CMMS and FM success. Thank you, Basant, for a great conversation!!

Greg interviews Basant Senghatwadia, Director of Customer Success and Strategy at Facilio, a company that provides modern property operations solutions. They discuss insights from the FMI conference, particularly the impact of the recently ratified AIM Act on compliance in refrigeration management. Basant emphasizes the importance of CMMS (Computerized Maintenance Management Software) in addressing compliance issues and improving customer service. Greg asked “Why do facilities managers switch CMMS systems?” It’s often due to vendors not listening to the users’ concerns, leading to frustration. We also touched on the significance of mobile applications for technicians and managers, the need for effective training materials to ease technology adoption, and the challenges of implementing new systems in large organizations. Basant advocates for a phased approach to deployment, ensuring stakeholder involvement and addressing real-world complexities.

  • Insights from the FMI conference
  • How grocery & convenience stores are using CMMS for compliance
  • Tailoring CMMS to exactly deliver to customer expectations
  • Significance of mobile apps for technicians and managers
  • Emphasis on effective training to facilitate technology adoption
  • Maximizing usage of your CMMS
  • Connecting people, processes and systems
  • The role of low-code/no-code in fast-tracking product evolution
  • Phased approach to deployment

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CR096: The Passion for Machine Shops to Technology and Manufacturing with Arthur Field

CR096: The Passion for Machine Shops to Technology and Manufacturing with Arthur Field

Soft Skills and Communication in Maintenance Management Plus NEWS about SMRP 2024

From wrenching on cars into manufacturing with technology throughout! HE started building computers at age 10, loves the entire manufacturing industry, and is very focused on shop turnarounds!! A journey story with Arthur Field. He’s a presenter for MTD CNC and the founder of Spindles Turning & Earning. We get a brief review of Arthur’s first ever IMTS experience. Tune in for a fun episode with lots of cool moments!!

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QDD 178: QDD Redux: Prioritizing Customer Satisfaction in Product Design (the Kano Model)

QDD 178: QDD Redux: Prioritizing Customer Satisfaction in Product Design (the Kano Model)

QDD Redux: Prioritizing Customer Satisfaction in Product Design (the Kano Model)

How do you balance customer wants with project constraints? If your customer-facing teammates are saying our customers want this, that and the other thing, which ones do we prioritize over others?

Not all features are equal in the eyes of our customers. And not all features are value-added, either.

In this episode, we delve into how to prioritize customer wants using the powerful Kano Model, a tool that maps customer satisfaction against the implementation of product features.

You’ll learn how to differentiate between essential and non-essential features, ensuring that your design truly resonates with your customers. This episode walks through the intricacies of the Kano Model’s two-by-two matrix and the different satisfaction levels represented by various lines and curves.

Too complex? We break it down. Prioritize your features based on their impact to the customer using their voice. Then, consider how well you want to implement that in your design using the Kano Model.

Get ready for practical tips and proven strategies to enhance your product’s value while managing cost, time, and design trade-offs. This episode is an introduction to the Kano Model for design.

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CR095: Soft Skills and Communication in Maintenance Management Plus NEWS about SMRP 2024

CR095: Soft Skills and Communication in Maintenance Management Plus NEWS about SMRP 2024

Soft Skills and Communication in Maintenance Management Plus NEWS about SMRP 2024

He’s Back!!  George Williams joins CMMSradio to discuss the importance of soft skills and communication in the maintenance and reliability sector when considering the challenges maintenance professionals face in corporate environments and the need to understand organizational dynamics to influence decision-making. We talk about issues with implementing Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS) and the importance of documenting maintenance activities for budget justifications and operational improvements. 

George also announces an upcoming SMPR 2024 conference workshop focused on assessing facilities and developing actionable strategies. Be sure to attend this workshop on Maintenance and Reliability Best Practices in Monday October 7, 2024 at #SMRP2024!  It will help with facility assessment and strategy development.

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CR094: Optimizing Healthcare Facility Management Infrastructure Maintenance and Data Integration

CR094: Optimizing Healthcare Facility Management Infrastructure Maintenance and Data Integration

Optimizing Healthcare Facility Management Infrastructure Maintenance and Data Integration

In this episode, Mark Mochel of Brightly discusses the challenges of balancing investments in high-revenue healthcare assets versus essential infrastructure. He highlights the importance of a system-wide approach to facility management, the need for proactive!  

It’s about the crucial role of facility management in healthcare, emphasizing its interconnectedness with revenue-generating assets like MRI machines. Here are the main points:

  • Investment Prioritization
  • Deferred Maintenance exacerbated by the pandemic.
  • Cultural Differences and maintenance maturity
  • Cost vs. Cost Avoidance
  • Continuous improvement in maintenance practices
  • Favorite Music, Favorite Sport/Hobby, and Work-Life Balance

Mark has recently been named as Advisory Board Member of The American Society for Health Care Engineering (ASHE) for 2025!!  Mark highlighted the broader impact of his work, aiming for continuous improvement and better integration of facility management in healthcare.

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CR093: Streamlining commercial kitchen repair with innovative technology like Roopairs

CR093: Streamlining commercial kitchen repair with innovative technology like Roopairs

Streamlining commercial kitchen repair with innovative technology like Roopairs

Greg interviews the co-founder of Roopairs Technologies, Ray Bartolomucci III, a cloud-based dispatch software tailored for commercial kitchen repair companies. Ray shares his journey from working in his family’s Italian restaurants to studying and starting a software company in Italy. Inspired by his father’s advice, Ray and his brother, David, launched Roopairs to address inefficiencies in the kitchen repair industry.

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Fundamentals of Life Estimation

Fundamentals of Life Estimation

Fundamentals of Life Estimation

podcast episode with speaker Fred Schenkelberg

We often face questions, such as: “How long will this last?”, “Will this design survive for at least 5 years?”, and “When should we recommend servicing or replacement?” Being able to provide life estimates is a common skill we need to master.

Life testing is not the only method available to us. We can provide a guess (based on engineering judgement), to modeling and simulation, to field data analysis. And, there are more suitable methods depending on the particular situation.

Let’s explore the range of options available to estimate life for an item, plus the pros and cons of each method. You need to be aware of your options and thus be able to provide the best estimates when asked.

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